John Kerry To Discuss Afghanistan's Security, Politics And Gains During Kabul Trip

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شنبه 21 حمل 1395 ساعت 17:46 آخرین به روز رسانی در شنبه 21 حمل 1395 ساعت 18:41 نوشته شده توسط Syed Zabiullah Langari

Translations pending.

U.S Secretary of State Senator John Kerry arrived on an unannounced trip in Kabul on Saturday where he reaffirmed his country's long term support to Afghanistan in all areas.

Kerry would "emphasize U.S support" for the govement and its security forces, which NATO officials say fully control no more than 70 percent of Afghanistan," U.S State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement on Saturday.

Kerry's visit comes at a difficult time for Afghanistan. The Afghan National Unity Govement (NUG) is currently confronting numerous economic and security challenges and the hardline Taliban movement is at its strongest since the group was ousted from power by a US-led coalition back in 2001.

Upon arrival in Kabul, the U.S secretary of state appeared at a joint press conference with his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani where he acknolwdged that the U.S will continue backing the Afghan govement in all areas.

He said that joint cooperation and discussions between the Afghan and U.S govements has helped the country to move forward despite the challenges on the ground, adding that the U.S was still committed to determine the nation's territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

" U.S and Afghan govement's discussions have helped the country move forward. U.S continues to support Afghanistan's sovereignty," Kerry told reporters at the news briefing on Saturday.

The U.S diplomat hailed the efforts made by thousands of Afghan men and women for preventing their country from becoming a safe haven for Taliban militants.

Referring to the U.S's aid to Afghanistan, Kerry said that the United States will continue to support Afghanistan and the Afghan people as they are committed to fighting terrorism and extremism.

" The U.S will continue to support Afghanistan because Afghans are saying 'No to terrorism'," Kerry said.

When asked about the threats emerging from Daesh, the U.S official said Daesh has been a major threat to everyone. He called for wider cooperation between countries to fight the militant group.

"Daesh is a threat to everyone and we all need to fight it," he said.

Kerry also highlighted the gains made by the Afghan govement and people over the recent years and said the U.S govement and people would firmly stand behind the Afghans in their struggle toward socioeconomic development.

"Afghanistan has made significant gains and we firmly stand behind the govement," he said.

Meanwhile, the Afghan foreign minister Salahuddin Rabbani has said that during the tour, the U.S secretary of state will hold wide-ranging discussions with Afghan officials on a number of common issues with the main focus being on security, economy and social issues.

"Forces have as a result been able to conduct independent operations," Rabbani said, referring to the U.S military cooperation to Afghanistan.

In a question regarding the much-awaited peace negotiation talks between the Afghan govement and the Taliban, Rabbani said that govement will leave no stone untued to achieve lasting peace in the country. He called on the inteational community to use its influence to bolster efforts to get the Taliban to join the peace talks tables.

Rabbani stated that the Afghan govement was committed to safeguarding and supporting human rights, women rights and the rights of children.

While the ongoing conflict in the country has forced thousands of Afghans to seek asylum abroad, Rabbani said that govement is trying to help retuing migrants, especially with job opportunities.

Kerry's trip to Afghanistan comes just months ahead of a planned drawdown of U.S troops in Afghanistan. The current figure of 9,800 is expected to be reduced to 5,500 by the end of the year.

However, the new U.S commander in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson is set to conduct a review of the security situation in the war-ravaged country before making his recommendations to the Obama administration some time in June.

Kerry is set to hold one on one meetings with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his CEO Abdullah Abdullah in his day-long visit.

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